At the time of writing of this article, on exhibition at the Museum of New Zealand (Te Papa Museum), Wellington, were giant wax figures of real men and women who served during the horrific Gallipoli military campaign in the First World War that took place on the Gallipoli peninsula (Gelibolu in modern Turkey), from 17 February 1915 to 9 January 1916.
The displays included war machines meant to maim and kill on one hand, and bunkers and every day survival kit meant to protect life to the maximum on the other hand. The exhibition told of the heroic New Zealanders who had to endure the unimaginable conditions at Gallipoli.
In an incredible story of survival, a Maori soldier, Private Hone Tahitahi, was thrown unconscious to the ground when a Turkish bullet hit him on the chest. At the point of impact, however, was a prayer book, presumably in Private Tahitahi’s shirt pocket. The prayer book was on display at the museum.
One can clearly see the bullet hole at the bottom right-hand corner. The bullet had gone through the prayer book at the page quoting Jesus’ words of encouragement in the biblical verse Matthew 14:27: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” The description of the display is as follows:
“This prayer book saved the life of Private Hone Tahitahi literally. It stopped a Turkish bullet in its tracks. Tahitahi was struck above the chest and knocked unconscious. The bullet rested under this verse. ‘Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.'”
Matthew 14:27 reads: But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” In context, Jesus was reassuring His disciples, who were perturbed with fear when they saw Him walking on water.
| Greek | English | Value |
| Εὐθὺς euthys | Immediately | 1014 |
| δὲ de | now | 9 |
| ἐλάλησεν elalēsen | spoke | 329 |
| ««ὁ ho | – | 70 |
| Ἰησοῦς» ⇔ Iēsous | Jesus | 888 |
| αὐτοῖς autois | to them, | 981 |
| λέγων legōn | saying, | 888 |
| Θαρσεῖτε, Tharseite | Take courage! | 630 |
| ἐγώ egō | I | 808 |
| εἰμι· eimi | it is, | 65 |
| μὴ mē | not | 48 |
| φοβεῖσθε. phobeisthe | fear. | 801 |
The value of “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.” is (630+808+65+48+801=2352). The Carmichael λ Function evaluated at 2352 is precisely 168, which is the identifier of the Lord’s Prayer in the Gospel of Luke.
We can hypothesize that since the book is a prayer book, it is must surely contain the Lord’s Prayer. Whether Private Tahitahi actually prayed the Lord’s Prayer when the bullet hit him, we will never know since the soldier had long passed on. But we can be certain that the soldier was very much afraid.
CONCLUSION. In times of fear, pray the Lord’s Prayer to find solace and peace.
Discussions
The link between the Lord’s Prayer and Matthew 14:27, where Jesus says, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid,” can be found in the themes of trust, divine presence, and reliance on God that permeate both.
- Invocation of God’s Presence: The Lord’s Prayer begins with “Our Father in heaven,” immediately invoking the presence of God. Similarly, in Matthew 14:27, Jesus’ assurance, “It is I,” is a declaration of His presence. In both instances, the presence of God or Jesus brings comfort and a sense of security.
- Reliance on God in Times of Need: The Lord’s Prayer includes requests for daily needs, forgiveness, and deliverance from evil. This reflects a reliance on God for both physical and spiritual sustenance. In Matthew 14:27, Jesus’ command to “take courage” and not be afraid is a call to trust in Him during challenging or frightening situations, mirroring the trust we express in the Lord’s Prayer.
- The Theme of Fearlessness: “Do not be afraid” in Matthew 14:27 is a direct command to cast aside fear because of Jesus’ presence. The Lord’s Prayer, while not explicitly mentioning fear, is an exercise in casting our cares and concerns upon God, implying a release of fear and anxiety as we depend on Him for “our daily bread,” forgiveness, and protection from evil.
- Manifestation of God’s Kingdom: The Lord’s Prayer seeks the establishment of God’s Kingdom on Earth as it is in Heaven. Jesus calming the storm and His presence with the disciples in Matthew 14 is a demonstration of the Kingdom of God in action—where fear is replaced with peace, and turmoil is calmed by His word.
In essence, both the Lord’s Prayer and Jesus’ words in Matthew 14:27 encourage believers to find courage and peace in the presence and providence of God, trusting in His sovereignty over all aspects of life.
The Lord's Prayer: A Mathematician's Creed 